SAFETY SUGGESTION FROM SUPPORTER JOAN GRUBE

When walking on the bike path or the walking path in eastern Granville, I am often approached from behind by bike riders. I wish they would learn the simple polite warning of "on your left" to let walkers know that they are about to pass. Many walkers wear iPods and don't always hear approaching bikers. This is something parents should teach their bike-riding children (although many adults are guilty of not giving any audible signal as well). All it would take is a walker side-stepping to avoid a broken sidewalk or a branch on the path to cause a serious accident by stepping in the path of an approaching biker resulting in major injuries to the walker. It would be nice if the media would do an article featuring this problem. I know parents feel that having their children ride their bikes to and from Granville on the walking path rather than on busy Newark-Granville Road is a safe choice; but it isn't necessarily safe for walkers who have to be concerned with kids zipping up behind them without warning and cutting it very close when passing. Last summer I actually had two boys come up from behind and one passed me on the right and the other on the left all at the same time. I always say "thank you" to bikers who offer an audible signal.